Dominion Energy Ohio Reminds Public That State Law Requires Calling 8-1-1 Two Business Days before Digging

CLEVELAND, Aug. 10, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Dominion Energy Ohio is using the calendar date August 11, or 8/11, as a natural reminder that Ohio law requires property owners and contractors to call 8-1-1 -- to have underground utility lines marked -- at least two business days, but no more than 10 business days, prior to any digging project.

Making the call to 8-1-1 connects the general public and contractors to the Ohio Utilities Protection Service (OUPS), the local one-call center, which notifies the appropriate utility companies of their intent to dig. This service is free of charge. Professional locators are then sent to the requested digging site to mark the approximate locations of underground lines and facilities with flags, spray paint or both.

"Dominion Energy Ohio takes the safety of our customers and the communities we serve very seriously," notes Jeff Murphy, Vice President and General Manager, Ohio & West Virginia Distribution. "Calling before digging helps ensure safety and prevents accidental dig-ins and potential injuries, property damage and utility service disruptions."

Third-party disruption is the leading cause of damage to underground utility lines. Promoting the Call 8-1-1 and other pipeline safety messages has helped Dominion Energy Ohio reduce third-party dig-ins by 50 percent over the past decade, company officials say.

State law mandates a call to 8-1-1 for every digging project, no matter how big or small. Installing a mailbox, putting in a fence, building a deck, or planting a tree, are all examples of digging projects that require a call to 8-1-1 before starting.

The depth of utility lines and associated facilities can vary for a number of reasons, such as erosion, previous digging projects and uneven surfaces. Utility lines need to be marked accurately, because, even when digging only a few inches deep, the risk of striking an underground utility line still exists. Visit www.call811.com or www.oups.org for more information about 811 and the call-before-you-dig process. For additional natural gas safety information, visit www.safegasohio.org. 

Dominion Energy is one of the nation's largest producers and transporters of energy, with a portfolio of approximately 26,200 megawatts of generation, 15,000 miles of natural gas transmission, gathering and storage pipeline, and 6,600 miles of electric transmission lines. Dominion Energy operates one of the nation's largest natural gas storage systems with 1 trillion cubic feet of storage capacity and serves more than 6 million utility and retail energy customers. For more information, visit www.DominionEnergy.com.

SOURCE Dominion Energy Ohio

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